Cramps and Spasms

[podgeuk]

Hi all,
I know cramps are part of problems associated with MND but wonder if any one can help with possible medication for my problem. When I am in bed, I find my left foot spasmodically turns upwards towards my shin. This can happen frequently, every few minutes, without warning. It is painful and does delay me going to sleep. I will be seeing my GP but do not have a lot of confidence in his diagnoses or treatment, he had to look Motor Neurone Disease up in a book.
Kind regards,
Steve

[Ellie]

Your GP is not alone in knowing little or nothing about MND. The kindest thing I can say about yours is that he looked it up and didn't pretend or wing it 😏

Depending on how sustained the spasming is, you might need to take an antispasmodic med (eg Baclofen) at bedtime but usually people start off taking magnesium supplements, CBD Oil, calcium or vitamin D etc and see if they get relief.

Magnesium is very popular and gives good results - note: magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulphate formulations can cause diarrhoea, so either avoid those, watch the dose or just be aware - CBD Oil is popular too, it can be expensive for quality oil but has more potential overall benefits than magnesium.

Make sure you are well hydrated, legs and feet aren’t cold (they can be cold even in this weather!!) and feet aren’t constrained in bed. Massage helps too but this might be hard to do in bed with MND and harder still to get a willing helper at midnight…

Good luck.

Love Ellie.

PS. Love the 🐶 avatar Steve.

[podgeuk]

Hi Ellie,
Thanks again for your advice. I have tried CBD oil some time ago, I will try it again to see if it has any effect. I gave up smoking years ago but I do vape so no problem with CBD oil.
I have been given a contact web site who can make up oil depending on your symptoms. I am going to look into them to see if they are genuine. The site is thehealingqualdrum.co.uk
The avatar is my cocker spaniel, ex rescue dog, and she’s so loving but mad as a hatter.
Kind regards,
Steve

[Barry52]

Hi Steve,

I get cramps in my legs when I’m in bed. It doesn’t happen during the day so I think it’s related to when your muscles are relaxed. I take baclofen which helps to some extent but daily exercise is important.

Barry

[denise]

hi everyone
i dont have mnd but i do get cramp in my feet and it goes from one foot to the other - never figured out why that happens but i did notice something. i was using ibroprofen gel on a painful leg and i thought when suffering cramp in my foot why not give it a go and it worked! suppose cream like deep heat or something like that might work in getting warmth to the area. i know i always have very cold feet no matter what the temperature.
what i did want to ask is that my husband has this weird thing. i am not sure what it is but he can be sitting and he sort of jumps and turns and he doesnt know why it happens. again another one of those things that we should have asked the doctor. i dont know if its a spasm or what so if anyone else can identify with this id love to hear from them. it would be so helpful if it would happen infront of the doctor but things never work like that!
denise
x

[Ellie]

denise Perhaps it's Stephen's startle reflex causing those jumps? MND has an effect on our reflexes and reawakens primitive reflexes as a result of neurological damage.

Love Ellie.

[denise]

It just seems to suddenly happen. I shall ask the doctor about it. I end up with such a long list.
thanks Ellie
xxx

[rachelr]

Hard physio massage stopped my night leg cramps

[Johnny5]

Spasticity is a known issue with ALS/MND. I get them in both legs, and up into my lower half of the torso/paraspinal muscles. They can get bad. I take baclofen 3x a day (1-AM, 1-Noon, 2-PM) and magnesium supplements that help a lot with the severity.

Info on Spasticity here.